Posts

May 06, 2013

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11:00 PM | Cherished Beliefs Rational people can sometimes have irrational...

Cherished Beliefs Rational people can sometimes have irrational beliefs. via Jolulipa.

May 03, 2013

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(I know at least one reader will be interested in this, thus making it a topic theme worth continuing…) I have of late been banging my head at the ongoing frustration borne of repeat attempts to post comment on a pretty questionable, seemingly homeopathy-lauding paper published in a scientific medical journal. Yesterday, my eye was caught by something over at the BioMed Central blog, whence appeared an interesting post, entitled ‘Can open peer review work? Biology Direct suggests it […]

April 24, 2013

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7:29 PM | Another comment on BMC Cancer, WDDTY and homeopathy

Well, I don’t know what bugs are at play in the BMC Cancer system. Almost three weeks since submitting the latest re-worked version of my comment (which I append below so it may be read by somebody), not only has it not appeared under the paper in question, but the continued lack of response (excepting one message informing me that – again – my query has been forwarded to the Editorial team) to my interim e-mails to the relevant provided... Read more

April 16, 2013

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12:01 PM | Pseudoscience Awareness Week

Today is the last day of ‘World Homeopathy Awareness Week‘, which commences every year with cult-like commemoration of the birthday of its movement’s founder. The site informs us: ‘WHAW (World Homeopathy Awareness Week) was created to promote homeopathic awareness around the world. During this week homeopaths and friends of homeopathy share with the world the miracles of homeopathy.’ The miracles of homeopathy. Hmm. They are a confused bunch, these people. Trying to couple the […]

April 05, 2013

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3:08 PM | BMC Cancer, WDDTY and homeopathy: ‘new’ comment

It took (me) a month to get a comment posted on a paper on BMC Cancer’s site. My abbreviated version (which appeared five days after re-submitting it) has now sat there for three weeks alongside Kausik’s, both seemingly being roundly ignored. As is my query concerning the full text of my original blog post. What to do? Does it matter? Well, actually, as a QuackRag deems that the paper in question constitutes subject(ive) matter for (re-)citation, then yes, I think... Read more

March 18, 2013

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12:00 AM | TWL Live - Special Guest : Sanal Edamaruku Sanal Edamaruku...

TWL Live - Special Guest : Sanal Edamaruku Sanal Edamaruku is the founder-president of Rationalist International. He is also the president of the Indian Rationalist Association. He is the editor of the internet publication Rationalist International, author of 25 books and numerous articles. On 3 March 2008, while appearing on a panel TV show, Sanal Edamaruku challenged a tantrik to demonstrate his powers on him by killing him using only magic. The tantrik chanted mantras and performed a […]

March 16, 2013

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12:00 AM | XIV eeepBCN Sanal Edamaruku Charla de Sanal Edamaruku,...

XIV eeepBCN Sanal Edamaruku Charla de Sanal Edamaruku, presidente de Rationalist International y exiliado de la India a causa de una denuncia por blasfemia, impartida el pasado 12 de diciembre del 2012 en el Centre Cívic Barceloneta, en Barcelona. duración: 01:17:35 por Escèptics al Pub Barcelona.

March 13, 2013

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12:23 AM | Further comment on ‘Comment on protracted moderation of a comment: BMC Cancer, WDDTY and homeopathy’

Feb 21st (twenty days ago): I posted here a critical review of a paper purporting to research the effects of homeopathy on cancer patients, prompted by its citation in QuackRag What Doctors Don’t Tell You. Concurrently, I attempted to post question/comment on the paper – with a link to my blog piece – via facility for the purpose at BMC Cancer. Feb 28th (thirteen days ago): I followed-up on the non-appearance of my comment at BMC Cancer. The paper, my... Read more

February 28, 2013

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7:50 PM | Comment on protracted moderation of a comment: BMC Cancer, ‘WDDTY’ and homeopathy

Concomitant with airing my recent take on QuackRag WDDTY's clumsy referencing, I proceeded (after previous attempt to contact the corresponding author via the e-mail address provided for the purpose proved fruitless) to post the following as a Reader comment on the cited paper at BMC Cancer: 'Without homeopathic remedies, is care 'homeopathic'? I came across this reference in an article entitled 'Homeopathy is more than placebo' in the latest issue of the magazine 'What Doctor's Don't Tell […]

February 21, 2013

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3:41 PM | ‘What Doctors Don’t Tell You’ cites paper that demonstrates there is no such thing as homeopathy

Back in that supermarket a few days ago, I again found myself driven to taking a thumb through the latest edition of QuackRag What Doctor’s Don’t Tell You, whose unscrupulously permissive advertising policy is being systematically exposed by The Nightingale Collaboration. Though I didn’t buy the rancid rubbish, I alighted on a small piece entitled ‘Homeopathy is more than placebo’, from which I noted the reference cited as voucher for that statement. From BMC Cancer, no less. I’ll […]

Rostock, M., Naumann, J., Guethlin, C., Guenther, L., Bartsch, H. & Walach, H. (2011). Classical homeopathy in the treatment of cancer patients - a prospective observational study of two independent cohorts, BMC Cancer, 11 (1) 19. DOI: 10.1186/1471-2407-11-19

Citation

January 24, 2013

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12:06 PM | Haled comment

Traipsing to a(nother branch of that) supermarket just before Christmas, I passed an independent bookshop in the throes of its closing down sale, as is the way of this world. Re-approaching later from the opposite direction, laden with some unnecessary extra victuals, I decided to enter and see if an interesting bargain might be had. I managed to check any temptation to more spending until, taking another scan along on the 'Health' shelves, I put my bags down and took... Read more

January 18, 2013

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4:45 PM | A few (unoriginal) words on evidence-based versus complementary and alternative medicine

(A variation on some accommodating words proffered elsewhere, though unlikely to make the cut...) . Science is disingenuously misrepresented by those whose agenda rely on contra-scientific promotional tactics, such as devotees of ‘Complementary and Alternative Medicine.’ Refutation necessitates an appreciation of the psychology underlying people’s needs and preferences. CAM appeals to our intuitive nature. We seek patterns and readily attribute cause and effect: post hoc ergo propter hoc […]

January 05, 2013

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1:00 AM | How Should Rationalists Approach Relationships and Marriage?...

How Should Rationalists Approach Relationships and Marriage? (Panel) Skepticon 5 -Moderater: Jesse Galef -Panelists: Matt Dillahunty, Adam Lee, Chana Messinger, and Julia Galef Play Time: 01:20:39 via Hambone Productions.

January 01, 2013

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9:36 PM | Ear candling? – don’t be an ass!

If you’ve ever publicly aired an opinion on Complementary and Alternative Medicine, its products, practices and practitioners, and (cough) philosophy, then, not uncoupled from the probability of encountering adherence to fallacious logic and the provoking of irrational wrath, you may well have met with the defensive protestation that you are being offensive. Like that is somehow relevant. But, this entrenching attitude goes, rather than criticise or question, you should perhaps instead […]

December 28, 2012

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1:00 AM | Sanal Edamaruku: Superstition in India (godmen, saints and...

Sanal Edamaruku: Superstition in India (godmen, saints and miracles) 00:46 Maharishi Mahesh Yogi and Transcendental Meditation 04:44 Dhirandra Brahmacharia 05:32 Chandra Swami 12:49 Satya Sai Baba 20:07 Asharam Bapu 21:17 Arrest of a godman in Kerala 21:53 Amma, The Hugging Saint (Amrithanandamayi) 26:41 Sri Sri Ravi Shankar 28:40 Baba Ramdev 32:29 Pilot Baba 37:17 Prahlad Jani 42:20 Hira Ratan Manek 43:03 Nirmal Baba 46:41 Kalki Bhagvan 47:05 Baba Jamun Yadav child-trampling godman […]

December 22, 2012

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4:08 PM | Ever for Never

Just come back from the middle class's likely favourite supermarket, having got up at six in order to get there for a 7 am opening so as to avoid as much as possible the elbowed and elbowing throng storing up their appliance pouches in readiness for a week of sitting around getting drunk and fat (sez me), wherein, after I'd bit the bullet at spending more than I intended, I wandered over, in conversation with my companion about the insidious... Read more

November 13, 2012

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1:03 PM | A latent monadology: An extended revisitation of the mind-body problem

In an earlier post, I’d spoken about a certain class of mind-body interfacing problems (the way I’d identified it): evolution …Continue reading »

October 13, 2012

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6:37 PM | Libel reform and the public interest

Further to my passing on of the Libel Reform Campaign’s e-mail flagging up the Second Reading of the Defamation Bill in the House of Lords last Tuesday, a further LRC communiqué was sent out – from Simon Singh. It is apposite that Singh is reminding us of the serious limitation of this Bill – specifically, the public interest defence, which, as it stands, would still leave expressers of reasonable opinion exposed to the threat of libel action, such as brought... Read more

September 19, 2012

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12:28 PM | Homeopathy, celebrities and advertising III: remit, or not remit?

Further to my frustration with being ping-ponged between the Advertising Standards Authority and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, I did eventually receive further correspondence from the latter, as follows: ‘Thank you for your emails with further comments regarding the BHA Celebrity Photography Project website, which have been received. We have considered the content of your email and the website again and… discussed the issues raised below with colleagues in […]

September 07, 2012

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2:43 PM | Homeopathy, celebrities and advertising II: the ASA loophole?

Following my recent flagging of the British Homeopathic Association’s ridiculous ‘Celebrity Photography Project’, I cracked on and brought this to the attention of the Advertising Standards Authority: I understand that the ASA is currently not seeking further complaints about homeopathy, and that it is conducting an ongoing monitoring process. However, I have read its letter to homeopathy website holders subjected to complaint, the addressees of which, one might presume, included the […]

August 22, 2012

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10:17 AM | Darwin Just Made It Up

Another gem from the annals of religious stupidity: “The theory of evolution is a theory, and essentially the theory of evolution is not science — Darwin made it up,” state Sen. Ben Waide (R) said. “My objection is they should ensure whatever scientific material is being put forth as a standard should at least stand up to scientific method. Under the most rudimentary, basic scientific examination, the theory of evolution has never stood up to scientific scrutiny.” This come […]

August 18, 2012

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1:31 PM | Homeopathy, celebrities and advertising

Yesterday, I took myself to the website of the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) (primarily for purposes other than those I discuss here and which I won’t go into now, at least not until I’ve heard back from them regarding my enquiry; however, whilst there…) and conducted a search for ‘homeopathy.’ This was, I have to say – although, as ever, I find myself somewhat off the pace – fascinatingly informative. Upon widening its scope, on 1 March 2011, to encapsulate... Read more

May 12, 2012

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9:57 AM | Debunking Miracles May Get You Jail Time In India

Another normal day in India: Early in March, little drops of water began to drip from the feet of the statue of Jesus nailed to the cross on the church of Our Lady of Velankanni, down on to Mumbai's unlovely Irla Road. Hundreds began to flock to the church to collect the holy water in little plastic bottles, hoping the tears of the son of god would sanctify their homes and heal their beloved. Sanal Edamaruku, the eminent rationalist thinker, arrived at the church a fortnight […]

October 17, 2010

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8:30 PM | A Skeptic’s Perspective – Repost

After Friday’s unabashed rant on things magical and absurd I felt it would be good to post a more level headed and rational piece. This post from a couple of years ago caught my eye at the right time and given the popularity of reposting I decided it was worth another outing: A less formal [...]